The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Friday, March 31.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 1, 31 March 1893, Page 8

The Southern Cross. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. Invercargill, Friday, March 31.

“ aSToTiiiXG venture, untiring- Avin,’' is a motto of universal application — never more so than Avhen determiningupon the issue of a new journal. At the same time in launching- our little craft —drafted on popular lines — avc believe that ive are meeting a public need. Thus far, scarcely a note of discouragement lias readied us — indeed, the cordial manner in which our business overtures have been responded to has been most gratifying—on this point our advertising columns speak for themselves —Avhile good Avish.es have been legion. Wc do not expect to reA'olutionise the political, social, religious, or commercial Avorlds, but we da hope to be a welcome guest in every Southland home, and an acceptable epitome of the Aveck’s doings for transmission to distant relatiA'es or friends. Every endeavour Avill be made to furnish, our pages Avith original matter, but it Avould bo an idle thing to say that “ scissors and paste ” aa ill come

■within the ban of litter prohibition. But we venture to promise that they shall he used with the utmost discretion, and as little as possible. Our price—the popular penny —places the SoUTRF.ivx Cross within the reach of all, and we intend to make it full value for the money. The present number gives some idea of the lines on which the paper will be run, hut in subsequent issues, when opportunity is civen for better classification, the contents will he more varied. "While not proposing' to close our eyes on what is taking- place in other parts of the world, we shall keep a careful watch on all matters of local interest.

One of the most important functions a journal can discharge is that of giving an opportunity for the expression of opinion on the topics that from time to time engage notice. Every facility, compatible with space, will be given to correspondents to discuss all matters of local or general interest. Short, pithy letters on subjects of public concern will he welcomed. Personalities, whether in our editorial or correspondence columns, will,however, find no place. A word to business men. The arrangement of the paper, although in no way interfering with the peace of mind of “the general reader, *’ is such as to make our columns of special value for advertising purposes, while bringing the business notices and the local happenings of inland centres into juxtaposition must gain the approval of all couutrv constituents.

To the question “ W hat are your politics Y ’ we have no difficulty in replying 1 . Under no oil ligations to party, sect, faction, or 'ism, we shall hold ourselves free to approve or condemn, as conscience may dictate, the actions of public bodies and public men. In short wo may, to slightly alter a sentence of bir Robert Stout s recent Auckland speech, say —“We are called upon neither to defend the Government nor criticise the Opposition, but arc at liberty to say what wo wish -without being' accountable to either party.” Too often the usefulness of the press is greatly diminished by unreasoning partisanship. The present Government is in evidence on this point. With some journals they can do no wrong —with others they can never, by any possibility, do right. This literary seesawing—this perpetual “ Yes” on the one side and “ Ao ' on the other —this inability or refusal to recognise virtue in anything; outside certain limits, whether political, social, or religions, is fatal to intelligent criticism —never marc required than now. The present is emphatically a period of “ storm and stress." .Doctrines and customs long accepted as unquestioned are being tested and tried. Rvery department of human activity is feeling the : influence of the spirit of the age. In Britain, the home of Frcc'rade. some of the organs of public opinion are publishing articles headed, “ Is Freetrade a Failure Y ” Social problems are also being - bandied with equal freedom, and under these circumstances it would ill become us to dogmatise. Hero, as at iiomc, the labour question is one of great importance. Wc are in thorough sympathy with the legitimate aspirations of the world s toilers, but have no patience with those who, whether m press or on the platform, use them as stepping stones to position and emolument, or who advocate the inbringing of a state of things that, if secured, would prove a veritable fool s paradise to the workers. Reforms can be effected without seeking after the impossible, or infringing on the rights of others. There arc people who profess to be alarmed at the existing unrest. We look for nothing- hut good from the collision of opposing’ ideas. Out of it will surelv be evolved the “ sweeter manners, purer laws” that all desire. With these words of introduction, which might perhaps have been extended with advantage, we place ourselves in the hands of a discerning public.